MemphiSport 29, Apr/May 2011

101 Things We Love About The Redbirds

APRIL/MAY 2011

M E M P H I S P O R T. N E T

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A P R I L / M AY 2 0 1 1 VOLUME 4, NUMBER 5

“If the Grizzlies are winning and the Tigers are not, then the fans could shift their allegiance.“

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–Marcus Hunter 6

28

10

18 Changed Man 10 Former Tiger Shawne Williams is determined to make the most of his second chance in the NBA.

101 Things We Love about the Redbirds 12 Reasons galore to never miss a Redbirds game.

Tony’s Time 18

Front Nine 4 Nine questions and nine answers from Will Coleman.

Live Debate 6 Will the Grizzlies ever be as popular as Tiger Basketball in Memphis?

Tony Allen talks basketball, life and craziness.

All-Stars 8 This soccer standout is a star on the rise.

12

Teamwork 9 Futsol comes to the Memphis area.

Power Train 26 Staying healthy on the go.

Varsity Spirit 28 Meet Marci and the other cheer moms.

All In 30 The future of slot technology.

Picture Puzzle 33 Play. Play. Play.

Tailgating 34 Riverkings and Globetrotters.

Jack’s Back 36 The legendary broadcaster, Jack Eaton, is inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame.

22 M AWARDS BALLOT The fifth annual M Awards are here.

Start the voting.

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memphisport.net twitter.com/memphisport

Publisher Mike Bullard 901.229.4749

mike@memphisport.net Managing Editor Kevin Cerrito

kevin@memphisport.net Director of Photography Chase Gustafson

chase@memphisport.net Contributing Photographer Justin Ford Contributing Writers Zach Berry Jack Eaton Doug Gillon Ben Hogan Brandi Hunter Marcus Hunter Andre Johnson Rudi Schiffer Brennan Somers Contributing Illustrator Andrew Chandler Cover Illustration Andrew Chandler

ŠCopyright 2011 Memphis Sport Magazine LLC, All Rights Reserved

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FRONT NINE

Nine questions. Nine Answers.

Will Coleman Written by Mike Bullard

Recruited by Coach Cal, Will Coleman was one of the few players who stuck around the program for the rebuilding with Coach Pastner. After winning the C-USA championship and a career-ending game against Arizona, Will answers nine questions for MemphiSport.

You graduate in May with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. What in the world is that?

It is a concentration in criminology and sociology.

What are your plans for after college?

I would like to play basketball. But if not, get involved with the FBI or DEA. Are you looking at playing overseas?

Playing wherever.

Who would be your dream team to play with?

“I would like to play basketball. But if not, get involved with the FBI or DEA.“

The Heat. Just because I used to live in Miami when I went to school there. The city is great.

What was the highlight of you college basketball career?

Winning the conference tournament.

Coach Pastner described you as an “elite role model.”

What would you say makes someone a good role model?

Someone that is always gonna stand up for what is right. No matter what it is, just someone who is always willing to do the right thing.

What is your favorite charity?

Not really an organization. Just stuff I like to do, like going out to elementary schools and speaking to kids.

Do you have any parting words for the people of Memphis?

Who was your role model?

My mom. My parents. That is who made me the person I am today.

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A P R I L / M AY 2 0 1 1

Thank you. I love Tiger Nation. I love the people.

Thank you for accepting me with open arms. Thank you for having me. Thank you for letting me play for your city. I’ve had a blast here and I loved it.

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M E M P H I S P O R T. N E T

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L I V E D E B AT E

Kevin and Marcus go head-to-head.

Will the Grizzlies ever be as Popular as Tiger Basketball in Memphis?

Written by Kevin Cerrito and Marcus Hunter, Photos by Chase Gustafson Marcus: I think the Tigers did a good job this year of having a late run that will keep the fans on their side for a little longer. But Memphis is a city of fans that like winners. If the Grizzlies are winning and the Tigers are not, then the fans could shift their allegiance.

Now that the Grizzlies are winning, people are starting to get behind the team. Fans are starting to get to know the players, wanting to know more about them, wanting to pay to see them.

Marcus Hunter “If the Grizzlies are winning and the Tigers are not, then the fans could shift their allegiance.”

Kevin: A number of people are Tiger basketball fans because they went to the University of Memphis. Every fall the U of M has thousands of new freshmen enroll and officially become part of Tiger Nation for life. The Grizzlies don’t have that luxury.

Marcus: I know, but not all of those students stay in Memphis and there are so many more people in the city of Memphis who did not go to the university. There are plenty of people who live in Memphis that have never even been on the U of M campus.

Marcus: This argument is mostly about the casual fans.

The fans who wear Tigers gear one day but will put on a Grizz shirt if they make the playoffs. Those are the fans I am talking about. Those are the fans that move the city. Those are the fans that “bring the city together” when the Tigers are winning. They bring together Tiger Nation and the casual fan. If there ever were an extended period of time where the Tigers were losing and the Grizz were winning, then the Grizzlies would be the ones bringing the city together.

Kevin: It would take a great deal of winning by the Grizzlies and a great deal of losing by the Tigers to make that happen. And let’s face it, winning is easier for a Conference USA team than it is for a small-market NBA team. When the Grizzlies finally make their big return to the playoffs, they will have to face a team like the Lakers, the Spurs or the Mavericks in a first round seven-game series.

Marcus: Most of the Tiger fans in the city are cheering for the team because they are winning. As you saw when the Grizzlies started losing, people stopped showing up at the games. When the Tigers weren’t doing well this year, attendance dropped.

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A P R I L / M AY 2 0 1 1

Kevin: It is more complicated than just winning. Memphis has an unexplainable relationship and connection with Tiger basketball. Just look at how the city treated two players with similar characteristics. Will Coleman was on the Tigers for two seasons, is a physically talented big man who is terrible at basketball but has a great attitude. Hasheem Thabeet was on the Grizzlies for two seasons, is a physically talented big man who is terrible at basketball but has a great attitude.

People couldn’t be happier to see Thabeet traded away while Coleman got a loving farewell tribute in the local newspaper.

Marcus: That is a good point. But remember Willie Kemp?

Fans didn’t think much of him and his game either. Sure they rallied around him when his mother was sick, but he wasn’t a player they loved regardless of how he sucked on the court. I mean look at Hamed Haddadi. He hardly ever plays and when

Kevin Cerrito “It is more complicated than just winning. Memphis has an unexplainable relationship and connection with Tiger basketball.” he gets in the game the fans love him. When fans see him on the street they love him. It all depends on the player, not who they play for. Thabeet was the No. 2 overall pick. Fans didn’t like him because he was a sign that the organization once again failed at the draft.

Kevin: What would have to happen for Grizzlies fans to rally together and welcome their team home at the airport?

Marcus: The Grizzlies would have to go to Los Angeles and win a playoff series against the Lakers. That could happen someday.

I think it is great for the city to have a winning college basketball team and NBA team. Memphis is like no other city on the planet when it comes to basketball and how much the people here support their hoops.

I would love nothing more than for both the Grizzlies and Tigers to be at the top of their leagues. That way the city can really come together with Tigers and Grizzlies fever.

Kevin: I’m cool with that, as long as it doesn’t lead to a citywide outbreak of Bieber fever.

Kevin Cerrito and Marcus Hunter host the award-winning MemphiSport Live every Saturday at 11am on Sports56 WHBQ. Listen anytime at memphisport.net.

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M E M P H I S P O R T. N E T

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A L L- S T A R S

The best of the preps.

Star on the Rise SBA Standout is a Soccer Sensation.

Written by Ben Hogan

Local talent is always something the city of Memphis and the surrounding areas takes much pride in. A name that most people around the Mid-South might not be familiar with, but could become a household name soon is St. Benedict senior and athlete Julie Eckel. Eckel plays three different sports for the SBA Eagles basketball, track, and soccer. She enjoys playing all three, but her favorite to play is soccer, and that’s the one she will be playing when she attends the University of Tennessee this upcoming fall. During her senior season on the pitch where she played both goal keeper and forward, she racked up impressive stats at both positions, scoring fourteen goals and recording eleven shutouts while playing keeper.

“Some people look up to Mia Hamm as a role model, but new players that would come in would say, I want to be like Julie Eckel”

Eckel has picked up many awards and accolades during her career at SBA. Some of her career achievements include 4-year starter, 4-year scholar athlete, All-Region MVP, All-Metro, All-State, and Top 10 finalist for Wendy’s Heisman/Scholar Athlete Award. She also participated in the Olympic Development Progam (ODP) and attended the Dynasty Goalkeeping Camp, as well as selected as the only female on the Under-19 Region ODP team.

This past summer, Eckel was selected as one of three high school girls to the ODP Alumni team to play the South Korean National Team, who ended up winning the Youth World Cup. The ODP team ended up losing 2-1, but Eckel learned from this experience by commenting, “they played at a lot quicker pace then I was used to, and played at a higher level.” She also played with two current members of the UT soccer team before she committed to play there.

While Eckel accomplished a lot in high school, there is one thing that she was not able to accomplish that she wish she could have. That one thing is she wishes she would have been able to win a state championship. Eckel’s coach, Julie Knowles feels the same way. Knowles, who just finished up her third year as head coach after serving two as an assistant at SBA, said “I felt we deserved to play in the state tournament, with all of the progress that some of the players made.” The Eagles finished the season 8-3-5 and lost to Battle Ground Academy 4-3 in overtime in the 2-AA quarterfinals.

Coach Knowles will miss the leadership and hard work that Eckel brought everyday, as Eckel was described as a player “that always gave 100 percent and always made an impact.”

If anything best describes the way Eckel was on the field, it would be the story Knowles shared. It was Eckel’s junior year and they were playing ECS and Eckel was in goal, a shot came her way and she made a diving save, got back up and a shot was made to the other side of the goal and she was able to dive and make another save. Eckel played goalie for the most of her first two year, but the first time she played in the field as a mid-fielder she led a furious comeback and scored two goals.

One more thing that Knowles will be missing from Eckel is her leadership because “she never tried to impress anyone with how good she was” and “always tried for perfection.” Teammates would look up to Eckel as a sort of role model, “some people look up to Mia Hamm as a role model, but new players that would come in would say, I want to be like Julie Eckel,” said Knowles.

Eckel just finished up with SBA on the hardwood as they lost in the semifinals of the 2-AA state tournament and is now focused on track and field before she graduates.

Eckel is definitely a busy and talented athlete, and if people don’t know her name now, they may soon know it very well.

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A P R I L / M AY 2 0 1 1

Changed Man Former Tiger Shawne Williams is determined to make the most of his second chance in the NBA. Written by Andre Johnson, Photo by Chase Gustafson

Sporting a practice T-shirt and uniform shorts, Shawne Williams is sitting in front of his locker, less than an hour before a recent tipoff between the New York Knicks and the Memphis Grizzlies, telling several Knicks representatives about Memphis, the town in which he grew up.

He is telling them, among other things, about his days of playing pick-up basketball games in the crime and drug-infested neighborhood of South Memphis. He is speaking of how the National Civil Rights Museum has become a significant landmark in the city where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was last seen alive. He is reminding them that Memphis is home to the renowned Graceland mansion and late rock ‘n’ roll icon Elvis Presley.

“I grew up like a few houses from (Graceland),” Williams said. “You can’t compare Memphis to New York. It’s a totally different world. It’s a large city. It’s a great stage to play on.”

For Williams, a former Hamilton High phenom who starred one season at the University of Memphis in 2005-06, the 25-year-old pro apparently isn’t suffering from stage fright, given he’s exhibiting his skills in the NBA’s largest market. Williams, to his credit, has proven to be an asset to the Knicks’ much-anticipated resurgence this season.

“I felt like the light switch came on when my nieces and nephews got curious about me not playing. They were like, ‘Shawne, when are going to see you play again.’”

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A P R I L / M AY 2 0 1 1

New York is now an Eastern Conference playoff team, in part because the 6-foot-9 Williams has emerged as one of head coach Mike D’Antoni’s key reserves since signing with the team back in September. Williams is currently eighth on the team in minutes played with 19.7 per contest through 47 games, and seventh in points per game with 6.9. He has started multiple games for the Knicks, his most productive outing coming in a January 12 loss at Utah when he scored a season-best 25 points in 34 minutes.

“I’m glad he’s here with us,” D’Antoni said of Williams. “We’re glad to have him.”

And Williams, as he puts it, deems himself “fortunate” that Knicks president of basketball operations Donnie Walsh believed in him enough to grant him a third chance to resurrect a career that was mired by a slew of off-the-court issues in recent years.

In September 2007, Williams, along with two other passengers in his car, were arrested in Indianapolis and on a charge of possession of marijuana. A stolen handgun that belonged to one of the passengers also was found in Williams’ vehicle. The other passenger was charged with possession of marijuana.

Then early last year, Williams encountered another run-in with the law when he was arrested in Memphis on felony charges for selling a codeine substance, a charge that was eventually reduced to a misdemeanor three months later after he pleaded guilty.

Placed on six months probation, Williams was ordered to undergo mandatory drug testing, attend a drug offender school and contribute $10,000 to a local drug treatment facility.

Many, in fact, believed that Williams, who was drafted 17th overall by Indiana in 2006, had played his last game in the NBA after he was waived by the New Jersey Nets just four days following his arrest in Memphis. It was a situation about which he admittedly felt embarrassed, considering youngsters who looked up to him began questioning whether or not he would ever play professionally again.

“To be honest, I knew that I was going to get back (into the NBA),” said Williams, who also played one season in Dallas. “I felt like the light switch came on when my nieces and nephews got curious about me not playing. They were like, ‘Shawne, when are going to see you play

again.’ I didn’t want to lie to them. What that did really was want me to set an example for them.

I wanted to give them a chance to see me play.”

As Williams got his legal troubles under control, his chances of resurfacing in the NBA became a strong possibility.

Kentucky head coach John Calipari, who coached Williams at Memphis, called close friend and then-Charlotte Bobcats coach Larry Brown, to arrange for Williams to attend a free-agent mini-camp with the team during the 2010 Orlando summer league. He didn’t disappoint, considering he was eventually offered training camp invitations from the Bobcats and Knicks a couple of months later.

The Knicks, consequently, wound up being Williams’ sentimental choice to continue his career since Madison Square Garden was the last place his older brother, Ramone, who was murdered, saw him play.

“I’m just happy to have this opportunity to showcase my talents in New York.”

He said that while his off-the-court misfortunes were self-manufactured, his time away from the NBA prompted him to assess his poor judgment and decisionmaking. Williams, in fact, describes himself as a “changed man” nowadays, primarily because he was fortunate to have been given another chance fulfill his dream.

“I’m just happy to have this opportunity to showcase my talents in New York,” Williams said. “They gave me an opportunity to do what I wanted to do in life and that was to play (basketball). I knew I needed to change my ways. I feel I’m doing well now. (New York) is a large city, a great stage to play on.”

Not to mention, a platform where he is fully embracing the golden opportunity this time around.

M E M P H I S P O R T. N E T

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Compiled by MemphiSport Illustrations by Andrew Chandler

101 Things We Love AboutThe Redbirds Compiled by MemphiSport, Illustrations by Andrew Chandler

Every Everyone in Memphis loves the Redbirds, but for anyon anyone out there who still needs a reason to profess that llove, MemphiSport offers up 101 of them. Enjoy.

BBQ Nachos

29 Taking a picture with Rockey

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Opening day Ope

Kid running the bases Kids aft after Sunday games Wa Watching the next generation of Ca Cardinals before they are Cardinals Cat Catching a home run bal ball on the bluff Ga Games are affordable fam family entertainment

Me Memoires of Albert Pujols’ gam game-winning walk-off homerun 13 inning of Game 4 of the in the 13th PCL Championship Series in 2000 The STRIPES (Sports Teams Returning to the Education System) program, which helps to provide baseball opportunities for Memphis City School kids

8

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A P R I L / M AY 2 0 1 1

9 10

Matinees

Having your kid’s ball team become “Little Legends” on the field before a game and during the national anthem Local Ghost River Brewing available on draft

11 12 13 14 15 16 17

A picnic way out in right field at the Picnic Pavilion Firework games

Partying on the club level party deck Live local bands performing in the plaza entrance Rockey’s Kids Club

AutoZone Park’s view of downtown

M E M P H I S P O R T. N E T

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Compiled by MemphiSport Illustrations by Andrew Chandler

The dancing and singing on Greek Heritage Night

18 19 20

Bad seats don’t exist at AutoZone Park

The cool A/C and relaxing furniture on the club level

31 32 33

A special Redbirds toolbar for your Internet browser

Singing along with “Take T me out to the ball ga game” during the 7th inning innning stretch

Standing up and clapping when there are two outs in the top of the 9th

The Reviving Revivving baseball iin the Inner Cities Cities (RBI) progr program, which is an instructional instruuctional baseball baseba and softball summ mer program summer

34 35

21

Picnicking on the bluff

The blue jerseys

Up-toUp-to-date -date inside ne newss from in terns on the interns C Chatter blog Chirp Chatter

22

No Orange Redhots thanks to the R Redhots new sponsor, Palm B Beach Tans. will make sure th that they stay properly tan tanned all season long

36

Memories of Rick Ankiel’ ’s comeback as Ankiel’s e in 2007 an outfielder

23

Buying a little stuffed Rockey too bring home

24

C Catching pract practice bbaseballs durin during w the fly ball warm ups

25

78 Memories of the Stubby Clapp backflip

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A P R I L / M AY 2 0 1 1

26 27

Heaaring an organ played Hearing nev ver sounded so good never

The Big Dog, a half-p half-pound jumbo grilled g sausage covered ri with chili, cheese, fried onion rings complete with and a knife and ffork

28 29 30

Being 1 of the first first 5 5,000 fans on a free promotions night

A little basketball shooting at the baseball game on the Boardwalk

37

Private watch parties from the balconies of the overlooking apartment buildings

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39 40 41 42

Bobbleheads

43 44

Watching batting practice before the game

45 46 47

Catching a foul ball

Funnel cakes

Winning the Birdbath water gun race at the Boardwalk

Kids running to first base after a Tuesday game for the Run a Single with Kraft Singles

Taking a picture with Rockey

Bird Vision videos on memphisredbirds.com

Getting a few autographs before the game starts next to the dugouts

Kids celebrating their birthday with Rockey Buying a PCL Champs t-shirt

The team is the AAA affiliate of the Cards and not the Expos, Royals, Padres or Mariners like the Chicks were

48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57

The 2000 PCL Championship

The 2009 PCL Championship

Faith & Family Night

The tallest video screen in the minor leagues Peanuts and Cracker Jacks

The playground nd next to the bluff The Red Hots

Rockey zipping around on his ATV

Buy 1 Get 1 Free tickets kets eevery Tuesday when you bring a KRAFT Singles package wrapper

58 59

Stepping into the batting cage at the Boardwalk

This fun fact: Because of BBQ Nachos, AutoZone Park is the only ballpark in the country where top selling item is not hot dogs Trading our Redbirds trading cards

60 61 62 63

Ice cream served in a miniature baseball helmet AutoZone Park is a staycation destination

40 Funnel Cakes

Bringing our dogs to the game once a year on Bark in the Ballpark day Doing a Harry Caray impression o Redbirds Fantasy Radio on

64

65 66

Singing along to the players at-bat songs

Chance ce to see upand-comers from her teams around MLB other

55 The Red Hots

M E M P H I S P O R T. N E T

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67 68

The team’s continuous support of Habitat for Humanity

Games are a perfect backdrop for snapping interesting Facebook photos The red chair in right field commemorating Albert Pulhos’ PCL Championship home run

69

Season ticket holders can transfer, exchange, or donate their tickets online

70

Catching a free t-shirt

71 72 73 74 75 76

The game every year after the NBA draft, when a new Grizzlies player throws out the first pitch

85

86 87 88 89

The Zooperstars

The Fourth of July uly game

The new picnic terrace seating

This fun fact: The team got a physic to predict what game this season the team will absolutely win. She picked August 1st and now it is “Guarantee Win Night”

The Rockey Hopper

AutoZone Park is a great place for a summer job The 24-foot climbing wall on the Boardwalk.

Children under 3 get in free

After the game, you are just two blocks from Beale Street

34 Picnicking on the bluff

77 78 79 80 81 82 83

The team is proof that nonthreatening mascots can win

The Kiss Cam

Watching St. Louis Cardinal players rehab

Making “it’s not delivery” jokes after your buddy brings a DiGiorno back to the seats

A P R I L / M AY 2 0 1 1

93 94

The buffet at Business Person Lunch

Scout camp out night on the field

The selection of cool stuff at the Backstop Baseball Emporium

Watching people on Union and third from the club and press level balconies

95 96

New concession items are added every year like the Fritos chili pie and the ICEE Frozen Cokes

The Dance Cam

Cheering on our favorite colors in the Red, Blue, and Green car race

16

Listening Steve Selby call the games on Sports 56

Doubleheader days

Memories of the Stubby Clapp backflip

The friendliest ushers in the Mid-South

84

90 91 92

97 98 99

Happy Birthday shout outs on the video board Rockey’s Rockin’ Readers program

Memories of the T-Rex throwing out the first pitch at a game in 2010

100 101

The classy “Pasttime” logo

They introduced us to Silly Bandz

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1 18 8

F AEPBRRI L U/ AM RAY Y/ M2A 0R 1C 1H 2011

Tony Allen has been in Memphis for less than a year, but he has already played his way into the hearts of many Grizzlies fans. His statistics this season have closely mirrored those of his first five seasons with the Boston Celtics, but Allen’s contributions to the Grizzlies’ depth and play style have gone well beyond his line.

The fans, his teammates, his coach, and even opposing players know that when Allen comes into the game, the contest changes. Players move faster. Awareness goes up, and defense, the all-important defense, goes through the roof.

Memphisport sat down with Tony Allen to get his thoughts on his new city, his experiences in the league and to finally get an answer to the question on everyone’s mind, what makes him tick.

What’s better… New England Clam Chowder or Memphis Barbecue?

I gotta say the clam chowder put a bad smell on your breath, and the barbecue put a gain on your calories, but they both good to me. I like ‘em.

What’s your take on the playoff beards?

Around this time every year I just let my hair grow. But for the most part it was a constant team effort so everybody’s doing it.

What does that say about the team?

It shows that we’re pulling together. We in it. We in it for the long haul. So we all in it together and that’s what we’re going to continue to do.

Why did you choose number nine?

I chose it because I wanted something new. I was starting off fresh and going in a new direction, so number nine gave me something new.

What kind of things did Chris Wallace tell you?

He just said that he liked the way I played in the playoffs, he liked the way I defended these prolific guys – those top-notch scorers and stuff like that. He said he liked the way the Celtics used me and he liked how I responded to all the challenges that came my way.

He said all that and then he told me ‘That’s kind of lacking on our team from the previous year.’ And he said I just need you to come and bring that same type of energy and toughness to this team. I said ‘I don’t mind.’

He didn’t promise me any minutes, he just told me to come here and do what I do. That’s what he told me and everything’s been fine and dandy so far. Well… maybe not starting off but everything’s coming around now.

You’re known as kind of a defensive specialist. Is that accurate? Was that the kind of thing Wallace was looking for?

Talking about that, this was the first time you changed teams. How did the situation in Memphis strike you?

It’s definitely key. Every team needs defense so I don’t mind marketing myself that way. But at the same time I can do a little bit of everything – whether it’s passing out Gatorade or giving a teammate some good advice. I’m just a good teammate I believe, and I think that’s good to have in the locker room..

I just thought honestly that coming here I’d get a chance to be close to my coaches from Oklahoma State and I could work with the guy who drafted me, Chris Wallace.

Well lately you’ve been scoring a lot more.

Can you pinpoint a reason for that?

I thought that was big and the blueprint that he showed me, and the things that he said to me in the recruiting I believed.

I was sold on the pitch and I signed on the dotted line.

Just confidence and getting an opportunity to be out there. You look at the statistics in my career – whenever I’ve played a lot of minutes I’ve had ok or decent offensive games. But I compete

M E M P H I S P O R T. N E T

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t just o o h s n ca p Arthur l l e r r a ter jum D t e k b n i a h t h but wit rnett. I a o G d n n i o v R y Allen e n s K o a T s d a — o d . o e g ul Piece just as s talent a a s P i t s s y a e u l j d n talente dolph is Mike Co s n . a a . .

R t s s h u u c j r s Za n did fo – who i I think w y o a r G B y J d as P tion Ru n e m as good o not t Also Luther Head, we play ball and hang out together. Oh and shot....

I can’t forget Al Jefferson and Kendrick Perkins – those are my dudes. That and I always stay in tune with Paul Peirce.

on both ends, and at the end of the day I just want people to know me as a competitor.

You mentioned some guys you played with in Boston.

Talking about that, what’s it like to play on a world championship team versus a team that can’t quite cut it?

Do you have any best friends on the team?

Well I’ve been on teams that couldn’t quite cut it before we had Kevin Garnett. I was with a team that lost 18 games in a row.

Well I got hurt when they lost the 18 in a row, but I know what that feels like.

I pretty much like everybody. Everybody’s equal.

Don’t really have any favorites. Everybody’s cool.

Everybody’s always accepting each other.

What about around the league?

I got Will Bynum, that’s like my brother. I mean really like my brother. We used to spend the night over at each other’s houses in high school. Even when he was over in Europe I used to go over to his house and spend the night at his house. So that’s one of the guys that I would say is really close.

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But I also know what it feels like to win. I know what it feels like to go to each game knowing that we’re going to have to come out here and play because we are the team that everybody’s trying to bring their best against. From the Clippers to the Toronto Raptors – I mean every team was coming with it. But that was only because we were the World Champion Boston Celtics.

It was a lot different from being on the Boston Celtics that lost 18 games in a row. Those guys probably come to the arena, take a couple quarters off and blow us out or be down 20 and come back and beat us.

So how does a team go from losing 18 in a row to winning a championship?

I think it’s about putting in the right pieces to the puzzle. You need your scorer. You need your shooter and post player. Then you need a good defensive post player and defensive wing. You need a great point guard who distributes the ball.

Mind you, all those pieces where probably at one point top scorers. So then you need a lot of them to sacrifice and do the defensive things that they need to do. You also need a bench that’s willing and ready to play at all times. And even after you get all that, everything has to find a way to come together.

Does this team have the right pieces to the puzzle?

I think… well I’m going to say this. I think Zach Randolph is just as talented as Kevin Garnett. I think Darrell Arthur can shoot just as good as P.J. Brown did for us in the playoffs. I think O.J. Mayo has just as much, well maybe not just as much, but he can shoot well just like Ray Allen.

I would say Mike Conley is just as good as Rondo but with a better jump shot. I gotta say Marc Gasol is a highly talented offensive player, better than Perkins in that respect, and not to mention Rudy Gay – who is just as talented as Paul Piece.

At the end of the day all we have to do is focus – especially on defense. With all that talent on the offensive end, if we all make the sacrifice to focus on the defensive end, then it will be major.

You’ve mad a big impression on fans with how active you are during games, standing on the sidelines, waving towels, firing up the crowd. What inspires that kind of personality on the court?

I just think it’s the opportunity to get to play. I think it dawned on me the year after we won the championship and I didn’t play that much. I looked back and I saw that I wasn’t a good teammate. I wasn’t clapping and cheering because I was too stuck on myself. I didn’t enjoy the moment. So that next year I came back – worked hard, worked hard, worked hard.

Some things didn’t go my way at first. They had a little interim period where they brought in Mike Finley, and I took that like it was kind of salt to a wound, but I still worked hard. I said to myself, “I’m still going to be the guy that’s a good teammate; I’m still going to be the guy that’s in the gym late nights. I’m still going to cheer for any incoming player.”

I was just thinking about my attitude before when I wasn’t playing, and I thought, “I love this game, and that wasn’t me.”

So all the year I told myself that I was just going to thank God that I’m here, I’m going to be a good teammate, I’m going to cheer, and I’m going to do all that.

Eventually it all turned around for me. Look at this season. Good always comes to good. I just always stayed ready, so when I got an opportunity I was like, “YEAH! YEAH!” and I was prepared for it.

There ain’t no looking back now. I’m just going to keep that same energize-battery type of play… I mean you see it! Whatever you see that’s what it is! But it started from me just realizing that I love this game, and I need to love it whether I’m playing it or sitting on the sidelines.

You’ve talked several times about how, if you weren’t playing basketball you would be a teacher. Where does that come from?

Honestly, my granddad is a teacher. I wouldn’t say he was my top role model, but he was one of them. I used to look at him and think, “My granddaddy is the only one with a job! On my birthday he can always get me something… you know, my granddaddy – I like my granddaddy!”

So as I got older he said that if I went to college that I should take up education. So when I was in school and I was taking education, we had to do a lot of appearances with the kids and all that, I just fell in love with being around kids.

When you interact with them, you never know what they’ll say. They might say some of the craziest things, some of the funniest things. So I just loved being around kids. And I got my degree in education I was thinking, “You know what?

Why not teach.” And ever since then I’ve always said that when I’m done with the NBA that I’m going to teach kids.

You just joined twitter. How’s that treating you so far?

Well I’m just on twitter. I don’t know. I’m just seeing what it’s about now. I’m just trying something new. I sit around a lot doing nothing, just chillin’, and then I run across the craziest things so I figure why not let the world know?

That word ‘crazy’ comes up a lot when you’re discussed. Pretty much any time a fan talks to me about you they say, “Tony Allen, man that guy’s crazy!” It happens more than you might think. What do you have to say to that? Are you crazy?

[Laughs] I don’t know man. I can’t say I’m crazy but I am a realist. Quote that. I am a realist and I do speak on things as they come and I do tell it how it is. I can’t sugarcoat anything and I can’t hide anything. That’s just what’s instilled in me.

I got to keep it real. [Laughs] I mean, even in post-game interviews, it ain’t no secret about what happened, it wasn’t any magic. What happened in the game is what happened in the game.

So no, I’m not crazy – I’m just a realist.

M E M P H I S P O R T. N E T

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The M Awards ‘11 The voting begins on April 16. Tune into MemphiSport Live at 11am on April 16 for the live nomination special — Only on Sports 56 WHBQ.

M

stands for Memphis. M stands for major league. M stands for magnanimous.

M stands for marvelous, master, and most of all, MemphiSport.

The M Award stands for all that is great in Memphis area sports. And the best part is, it’s all up to you.

Remember, you–the readers–will be the only judges for this award. No referees, no coaches poll, and no panel of experts. You vote for the best of the past year in Memphis sports each year. This year’s nominees and winners are for the period between May 2009 and April 2010. You are in charge here, and what you say goes.

You make the picks, we tabulate the results. That’s all there is to it. Look for the winners in the next issue.

The Rules: Only one ballot may be filled out per person. Your ballot must include your name and email address and be entered by May 14. It’s not necessary to pick a winner in every category. But in order to be counted, a ballot must contain at least five responses.

No cheating. We know cheating when we see it. And we don’t like to see it. The online voting contains nominations for each category compliled by our staff at MemphiSport. As always, you are free to use our nominations or enter a nomination of your own. Vote online at memphisport.net or mail in this ballot.

VOTE NOW!

DEADLINE TO ENTER

MAY 14

OFFICIAL BALLOT YOUR

INFO

*Name____________________________________________________________________________ Address___________________________________________________________________________ City, State and Zip___________________________________________________________________ *email address_______________________________________________________________________

DEADLINE TO ENTER IS MAY 14 AT THE GAME

GET FIT Favorite Workout Facility____________________________

Favorite Healthy Store_______________________________ Favorite Concessions_______________________________ Favorite Place to Spend a Nice Afternoon_________________ Favorite Place To Tailgate____________________________ Favorite Bike Shop_________________________________ Favorite Sporting Venue___________________________ Favorite Race_____________________________________

SPORTS MEDIA

Best Game______________________________________ Favorite Sports Radio Personality_______________________ Most Memorable Moment__________________________ Favorite Local Sports Radio Program____________________ Favorite Annual Event_____________________________

Favorite Local TV Sports Personality____________________

Moment We Would Most Like to Forget_______________

Favorite Sports Website_______________________________ Best Oddball Moment_____________________________ Favorite Local Sports Blogsite__________________________ Best Musical Performance___________________________ Favorite Sports Radio Segment_________________________ Favorite In-Game Entertainment_____________________

SPORTS AROUND TOWN

IN UNIFORM

Favorite Mascot____________________________________ Best Place to Stock Up for the Big Game________________ Favorite Spirit Squad________________________________ Favorite Local Sports Bar/Restaurant__________________ Favorite Uniforms__________________________________ Favorite National Sports Bar/Restaurant_______________

Best Hair_________________________________________

Favorite Place to Eat Before/After the Game_____________ Favorite Fighter or Wrestler___________________________ Favorite Place to Take the Team After a Victory__________ Favorite Golfer_____________________________________ Favorite Place To Play Cards________________________

Favorite Baseball Player______________________________

Favorite Private Golf Course________________________

Favorite Football Player______________________________

Favorite Golf Store________________________________ Favorite Basketball Player______________________________ Favorite Sporting Goods Store_______________________ Favorite Athlete_____________________________________ Favorite Sports Apparel Store________________________ Favorite Coach______________________________________ Favorite Team_______________________________________ Most Hated Rival____________________________________

Two Ways To Enter:

1. ONLINE VOTING: www.memphissport.net 2. MAIL YOUR BALLOT: (photocopies are accepted) MEMPHIS SPORT, 1138 N Germantown Pkwy, Suite 101- 176, Cordova, TN 38018

24

A P R I L / M AY 2 0 1 1

WITH AMENITIES LIKE THESE, > BOREDOM IS NOT AN OPTION. From its inception in 1990, Germantown Athletic Club has served

> 40-meter indoor pool and hot tub area

as the community’s focal point for health and fitness by providing

> Outdoor pool and splash park

individuals and families in the Mid-South an environment that

> Three-court gymnasium and three racquetball courts

fosters fitness and fellowship. The Club offers its members

> Pilates studio

numerous fitness and aquatic facilities, specialized classes and

> Cycling room equipped with 25 bikes

expert staff under the leadership of the City of Germantown.

> Nutritional counseling > Massage therapy

Amenities include:

> Club Cafe with smoothies, wraps, salads and more Indoor, three-lane, 1/12-mile walking track

> Certified and professional personal trainers available to assist in fitness programming > Fitness area, measuring more than 8,500 square feet with top-of-the-line aerobic and weight-training machines > New locker rooms and sauna > More than 75 group fitness classes offered each week – included in membership

www.GermantownAthleticClub.org

POWER TRAIN

Train harder. Train with power.

Healthy Living on the Go Getting it in when you don’t have time Written by Brandi Hunter

As consumers in this dot-com age we’re quick to integrate any i-WiFi-3G-app wielding device into our lives that product creators claim will make our days more efficient. What often results from our preoccupation with maximum productivity is the added need to carve out more time (that we don’t have) in our schedules to manage the micromanagers. Fulfilling all of our traditional and 3.0 obligations leaves even less time to provide our bodies with what they need to keep the madness going.

Memphisport talked to Kelvin “York” Brown, vice president and director of training operations at Power Life Fitness to find out how to get it all in.

I asked York to take me through one of the workouts the trainers at Power Life would prescribe for someone who doesn’t have a lot of time to spare during a typical day.

His response, “Great!

I love fresh blood!”

I have an unpredictable schedule and few extra pounds of holiday weight that I let set up shop on my 5’3” frame, so I decided to put myself in the mix for this interview. I asked York to take me through one of the workouts the trainers at Power Life would prescribe for someone who doesn’t have a lot of time to spare during a typical day. His response, “Great! I love fresh blood!” Really.

The 30-minute workout didn’t kill me, but I definitely felt like I had been worked from head to toe. York says the workout was made up of compound movements, or full body exercises that “exhaust the most energy in the least amount of time.”

He stressed that exercising is not a one size fits all activity. The workout I did is just a sample of the many at-home programs available to Power Life clients. “Everybody’s got different needs.

Everybody has different goals. That’s why personal training is personal. You don’t put everybody in this robotic system.”

After the workout I played devil’s advocate by feeding York some of the main questions and excuses I have heard/used to talk myself out of a workout and into eating or drinking something “I deserve” at the end of a long day or when I’m in a time crunch.

York’s main piece of advice for me was not to over think the lifestyle modifications. Enjoy treats in moderation, “but the majority of your life, practice eating healthy.” And I will – right after I finish my other articles and figure out how to work my new coffee maker.

To schedule a health and fitness consultation at Power Life Fitness call 901.454.0003, or visit their web site at powerlifefitness.net.

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A P R I L / M AY 2 0 1 1

WE SAY: My busy schedule Keeps me from working out.

YORK SAYS: People have to change their mindsets. Instead of penciling exercise into your schedule, make it a mandatory part of your day.

WE SAY: I need to skip meals to lose weight.

YORK SAYS: The biggest rumor out there is if you want to lose weight, stop eating. You’re supposed to feed your body every three hours to get your metabolism going in the right direction.

WE SAY: I eat on the run at fast food restaurants and vending machines.

YORK SAYS: Choose chicken instead of beef. Order salads and don’t use the whole packet of dressing. Pack fruits, nuts, whole grain/whole wheat crackers and peanut butter or low sodium cold cuts as snacks.

WE SAY: I often need a pick-me-up because I get tired during the day.

YORK SAYS: Coffee is a natural stimulant, but too much of it is bad. Watch the servings with energy drinks. You only need half a can.

WE SAY: I eat late dinners most nights.

YORK SAYS: Eating late is not a bad thing, but you want to take in food that your body can process easily like fruits and vegetables and protein shakes.

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VA R S I T Y S P I R I T

Go. Fight. Win.

Christiana Written by Brandi Hunter, Photo by Chase Gustafson

Squad: Southwest Tennessee Community College Hometown: Bartlett, TN Age: 32 Classification: Sophomore Plans after graduation: Pursue a Bachelor’s degree and a career in Human Resources and become a cheerleading coach On being a “Cheer Mom”: The most common reaction I get when I tell people is, ‘Oh, you coach? Your daughter cheers?’

On Coach Sabrina: I respect her more than anybody. I owe a lot to her.

On teammates: We don’t judge each other. We put everything aside and just come here and try to take care of our business.

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F AEPBRRI L U/ AM RAY Y/ M2A 0R 1C 1H 2011

Cheer Moms

Not your average cheerleaders

Written by Brandi Hunter, Photo by Chase Gustafson

Tabitha Harris, Starr Johnson, Christiana Smith, and Marci Laverdet spend their days doing what many college cheerleaders do – commuting to class, going to cheerleading practice for a few hours, and finding time to study. However, when these Southwest Tennessee Community College (STCC) cheerleaders get home, they might have to postpone their own study time to help their son or daughter with homework.

All four women were cheerleaders for several years before they became mothers in their teens. They agree the timing of the pregnancies was not ideal, but they prove to people everyday that pursuing their goals is still possible. “You have to push yourself more than anything, and because you have a child that is even more reason to go to school and prove everyone wrong,” Johnson says.

STCC competes annually at the Cheerleaders of America National Championship Cheer and Dance Competition, but their team responsibilities last throughout the year.

In addition to three-hour long practices four to six days a week, the team cheers at women and men’s basketball games and represents STCC at charity events.

All of the women want to earn their Bachelor’s degrees, but finishing college is only one of many things they plan to cross off their to-do lists. Harris wants to be a professional

cheerleader in the NFL. They credit their coach and former Titans cheerleader Sabrina Tiller for giving them the motivation and support they need to excel academically and personally.

Tiller says part of her job is to prepare her team for life after college. “I want you to start thinking about your life. You are in college. You are an adult and you are going to have to make your own decisions.” She says expects a strong commitment from every team member and appreciates the dedication from her cheer moms. “They’re not getting paid for this. They don’t get scholarships. They get a small stipend, but they do it because they love it.”

“They’re not getting paid for this. They don’t get scholarships.

They get a small stipend, but they do it because they love it.”

For more information about the cheerleading program at STCC, e-mail Sabrina at stiller@ southwest.tn.edu, or visit the web site chi.southwest.tn.edu/cheer.

M E M P H I S P O R T. N E T

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ALL IN

You can’t win if you don’t play.

The Future of Slot Technology Written by Rudi Schiffer Slot machine technology is moving so fast that the average player cannot keep up with the pace, and perhaps that player could care less as long as frequent hits show up and different and more exciting games continue to appear on the casino floor.

While the faithful masses of slot players continue to huddle over their favorite games without any insight into the future, there are very definitely changes on the horizon that will have dramatic impact on how they play, what they play and maybe even, how they get paid.

“Downloadable games are coming and while the first implementation will mainly benefit a casino, players will be happy to know they can demand more games and get satisfaction since the this technology allows new games to be deployed more easily,” said John Robison, slot expert and gaming author.

Robison, peered into his own crystal ball and predicted that in the future players will be able to create their own list of preferred games, like having their own personal “Game Maker.” He said that players will be able to pick any machine and play any game on it. asinos are te “Several cca casinos testing this technology now but it might w years y t become used widely,” he said. take a few for it to reedicted there would be some player resistance He also pr predicted chhaanges, just aas some resisted bill acceptors and to such changes, systteems, technol ticket systems, technologies that are now standard. oint, all mac “At some ppoint, machines in a casino will be download bbuut it might not no be for several years or so,” he said. capable, but ennttertainment options will not be limited simply to ”Player entertainment uture options ccan appear as varied as preferred games; fu future ovvies, live tele music, mo movies, television/sporting events and so on.

There will ddefinitely be a future convergence between gaming tradittioonal entertainment. entertai and traditional Casino operators will also have technologgyy to further recognize r technology and reward their best players urprise and ddelight new ones such as celebrating but also ssurprise hdday or recognizing recog their birth birthday if they are new to the casino.” industrry is looking at gaming as more of an overall The industry experiencce with the floor o and property layout design., There experience fooccus on retail philosophies concerning customer is also a focus habits that can ca also related to their gaming habits. shopping habits t ma And if youu think slot manufacturers were bottom fishing when they madee games with nickel and penny denominations, “ think the future fut hold on. “I of slot gaming includes fractional creeddits, half pen penny credits, penny, tenth of a penny,” Robison.

“It’s beingg ddone now in Australia and headed this way.”

Future options can appear as varied as preferred music, movies, live television/ sporting events and so on. There will definitely be a future convergence between gaming and traditional entertainment.

While much of what we know on the slot floor will become obsolescent in the near future, one thing remains clear… games will be easier to play and you can play what you want on one machine and with denoms you would not think would interest players. You have heard that before now look at many penny and five cent machines are on casino floors.

Rudi Schiffer, the “Voice of Tunica” has been a fixture in Mississippi since the Splash Casino first opened in 1992. He is also the producer and co-host of the Goodtimes Radio show, the casino gambling show heard weekly on 730 Fox Sports and Gambling.

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A P R I L / M AY 2 0 1 1

M E M P H I S P O R T. N E T

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32

A P R I L / M AY 2 0 1 1

Play. Play. Play.

Do these two photos of Snoop Dogg courtside at the Grizzlies-Lakers game look the same to you? Look again.

We made seven changes to the photo on the right. Time yourself to see how long it takes you to find all seven.

PICTURE PUZZLE

Dogg-gone Changes Photo by Chase Gustafson

M E M P H I S P O R T. N E T

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TA I L G AT I N G

Sports was happening and you were there.

Mississippi RiverKings Fan Appreciation Night March 19, 2011, Desoto Civic Center Photos by Justin Ford

2

3

1. Bo Ripey and Renee Eldsworth 2. Rebekah Baumann and Devonne Shepherd 3. Jermey Elkins and Perri Elkins 4. Mike and Nikki Britton 5. Donna and Johns Means 6. Jina Mohundro and Michael Casoli

4

7. Grace Dettelbach and Jermey Davis

5

8. Marty Taranski, Scott Brode, Larry Caulford, Sheila Caulford and Will Hobbs

6

7

8

21

1

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A P R I L / M AY 2 0 1 1

Harlem Globetrotters March 8, 2011, FedExForum Photos by Justin Ford

9

10

11

15 9. Anne, 9 Anne James and William Locke 10. Burton and Rosie Casanova 11. Caroline and James West 12. David and Payton Offerly 13. Isra, Asif and Aryan Ahmed 14. Daxton Davis, Davis York, Benton York and Corey Davis

12

13

15. Gabbie Ezell, Ashley Cobb, Alex Kelly and Anna Horner

14 M E M P H I S P O R T. N E T

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JACK’S BACK

A Memphis legend takes a look back.

Hall of Famer Written by Jack Eaton, Illustrated by Andrew Chandler

As some of you may know I was recently inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame. Now, to be perfectly honest, I knew very little about the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame other than it was in Nashville.

Several weeks ago, Harold Graeter asked me if I would become a member if I was voted in. Of course I said, “yes” and forgot all about it. Next thing I know, I had been voted in and was set to be inducted this past February.

They explained that they liked to have taped footage to show to hold down the time the inductees spent “live” on stage.

The interview lasted about ten minutes and they seemed pleased with the outcome. I told them all about that when I first started my play-by-play career, I did Ole Miss in the fall and Memphis State in the winter. I don’t think they fully understood the fine line I had to walk. No matter.

As the day drew closer I began to worry about my bad hip.

Would it hold out? Should I cancel? Nah, guys from Washington and Jefferson College are tough. Yeah. But still, the darn thing really began to hurt and riding in a car only made it worse.

So my son, Todd, borrowed an SUV from a friend.

It had enough legroom for a big, lanky guy like me. I was fairly comfortable... fairly.

My pastor from Christ the King Lutheran Church, Chuck Neugebauer, wanted to come with us.

So the five of us—set out for Nashville.

No problems on the way to Nashville.We got there in plenty of time for the luncheon and had a chance to meet the other inductees. I didn’t know any of them. I had heard of ex-UT Coach Bill Battle, but that was it. Former Tiger great Bill Hudson’s son was inducted. Bill played in the early 60’s. I hadn’t seen “Big Bill” in years and I was glad to see him looking well.

So the night of the banquet arrived and I was hurting. I had taken my walker along just in case and I was glad I did. I needed it.

I told a couple of quick stories and was gone. Battle talked for upwards of half an hour. He lost me half way through.

This was way back in November of last year. I have been had trouble with my hips for some time—five hip replacements in the past few years, the last two especially painful. I wondered how my mobility would be by February.

But I figured I could handle it. After all, it was a couple months away.

The Hall of Fame came to Memphis to interview me before the event.

My presentation was brief, told a couple of quick stories and was gone. Battle talked for upwards of half an hour. He lost me half way through.

All in all it was a good experience, but it would have been a whole lot better if my hip hadn’t hurt so bad.

Next year, they say they are going to have a better representation from West Tennessee (at least, thats the plan).

The Hall of Fame itself is in downtown Nashville and has lots of memorabilia and stuff. It is worth a visit, so if your heading that way, just say, “Jack Eaton sent me.”

“Big“ Jack Eaton can be heard every Friday at 8am on KWAM 990 alongside former County

Commissioner John Willingham. In February, Jack will be inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame.

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A P R I L / M AY 2 0 1 1

Why do we play sports?

Why do we exhaust ourselves endlessly chasing

Our sports medicine staff specializes in getting athletes off the training table and

one another within fence enclosed grassy meadows or

back on the field as quickly as possible. But

frustrate ourselves by attempting to thwart the laws

we’re not just experts in sports medicine,

of physics that dictate an object at rest will remain at rest

we’re also the leader in general orthopaedics.

or punish ourselves with the unnatural pursuit of

So is it any wonder that the most serious of

conquering environments we have no business

athletes, those from the professional and

wading into?

college ranks, choose Campbell Clinic?

Why? Because it is there. Because the human

And if people whose careers are dependent

spirit won’t take no for an answer. Because adrenaline is

upon healthy bodies think we’re the best, then

a drug that feeds the soul. And because for those lucky

odds are we’re a pretty good choice for weekend

few able to run faster, jump higher, throw farther and

warriors, long-time couch potatoes, or anyone

dive deeper, glory awaits.

who turns an ankle, wrenches a back or twists a wrist.

So we play.

But not all of us are built for speed. Fewer still are built to absorb the punishment sports inflict. And none of us are eternally sixteen years old.

So we get hurt.

But we don’t mind. Even the biggest, strongest, and fastest of us get hurt. We accept that as part of sport. What we

Because even if you’re tough enough to play with pain, there’s no reason you should have to.

#43

campbell clinic is proud to be the official sports medicine providers for the memphis grizzlies, the memphis redbirds, university of memphis athletics, rhodes college athletics, christian brothers university athletics, the memphis river kings, the kroger st. jude tennis tournament, and ballet memphis.

#43

don’t like, what we detest, is not being able to play.

That’s where Campbell Clinic

CAMPBELL CLINIC Ortho p ae dic s w w w. ca m p b e l lc l i n i c . co m

comes in.

M E M P H I S P O R T. N E T

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